DARPA Develops Life-Like Bionic Arm

DARPA, the military R&D center that brought us the Internet, is developing a life-like bionic arm that will be as close to the real thing as has ever been developed.

The agency describes it as a "neurally controlled artificial limb that will restore full motor and sensory capability to upper extremity amputee patients. This revolutionary prosthesis will be controlled, feel, look and perform like the native limb."

Under its "Revolutionizing Prosthetics" program, DARPA is shooting for a four-year development-to-production timeframe, in which it will have to meet Pentagon specs for a device that can allow the wearer to pick up fine objects, lift up to 60 pounds, have tactile sensitivity and write longhand. The device will be wired directly into the wearer's peripheral nervous system.

Source: Defense Tech